How to install non-Steam games on Steam Deck

Want to know how to add games that aren’t from Steam to your Steam Deck? Having all the games on your PC on your Steam Deck is convenient. If you use Steam Deck to play games, that’s probably where you’ll buy and start games. But if you buy games from somewhere other than Steam, you can still install them on your Steam Deck. There is an easy way to add any game that isn’t on Steam to your Steam Deck so that you can play it right away. This article will show you how to add games that aren’t from Steam to your Steam Deck.

Valve made Steam Deck, a portable piece of gaming hardware. It is a portable PC that has everything you need. When you log in to Steam Deck, your whole Steam library shows up, just like it does on any other PC. You can also look at each online game’s compatibility rating, which tells you what kind of gameplay you can expect. If you want a certain kind of experience, you can filter any view in your library based on how well it works with your computer. Whether you use trackpads or thumbsticks, the Steam Deck was made so that you can play for long periods of time. It has full-size controls right where you need them. The back of the device has been made to fit a variety of hands comfortably.

What is Steam Deck?

SteamOS, Valve’s Linux-based operating system, is used by the Valve Steam Deck. It looks like a Nintendo Switch and was made with Steam gaming in mind. Players can connect it to a monitor or TV and pair controllers, mice, or keyboards with it. It can play games that were made for Windows, and like other portable gaming devices, it can pause and pick up games where it left off.

At the moment, you can only get on the Steam Deck by making a reservation, and there is a long wait list. On February 25, 2022, the first hand-held Steam Deck devices came out. Since then, customers who paid $5 to reserve a unit have steadily been able to get one, but the wait list is still many months long. At the moment, you can only reserve it in the US, UK, Canada, the EU, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Valve says that soon, more places will be able to order it.

Why would you want to install non-Steam games on Steam Deck?

1. Centralized Library: You can keep all of your games in one place by adding games from sources other than Steam to the Steam Deck. This makes it easier to get to all of your games and keep track of them from a single platform.
2. Steam Overlay and Features: If you launch non-Steam games through the Steam client, you can still use the Steam Overlay, which lets you use in-game features like chat, web browsing, and game guides without leaving the game.
3. Controller Configuration: Steam has a lot of options for configuring and using controllers. If you add games that aren’t made by Steam to Steam, you can use the Steam controller configuration to set up your gamepad so that it works well with all of your games.
4. Streaming and Remote Play: If you have games that aren’t made by Steam, you can use Steam’s streaming and remote play features to play your games on other devices in your home network.
5. Achievements and Tracking: Steam keeps track of your achievements and your game time. By adding games that aren’t on Steam, you can still get achievements and have your play time for those games tracked.

How to install non-Steam games on Steam Deck

1. To open the quick menu, press the STEAM button on the left.
2. Move down the list until you find Power and click on it.
3. Find Switch to Desktop on the power menu and click on it.
4. Find the Discover app and open it. It’s usually stuck to your taskbar and has an icon that looks like a blue shopping bag. If not, you can find it in the applications menu under the System tab.
5. Inside Discover, go to the left-hand menu and choose Applications, then Games, to sort results by category.
6. Scroll through the list until you find a game you want to play, then click Install.

How to install non-Steam games on Steam Deck Library

1. Turn on your Steam Deck and open the Steam client.
2. Select the Games tab at the top, which will bring up a pull-down menu.
3. Choose “Add a non-Steam Game to My Library” from the drop-down menu.
4. This will give you a list of all the games you have on your portable device.
5. From the list, you must add the executable or .exe files. If you can’t see any games, click the Browse button to look for them yourself.
6. Players who want to add non-Steam games from their SD card to the library should follow this path:
   • run/media/mmcblk0p1
7. Once you’ve added the required games, you can see a list of all the non-Steam games you’ve added to the Library.
8. Now, you have to force Proton compatibility in order to get to them and play them.
9. Go to your Library and choose the games you want to play that aren’t from Steam.
10. Select the button next to the game that says Settings.
11. Choose Properties from the drop-down menu, then go to the Compatibility tab.
12. To force the use of a certain Steam Play compatibility tool, you must mark or switch the first option.
13. Choose the latest version of Proton under Proton Experimental or set it to Proton Experimental.
14. Then, press the Steam button and go back to the Gaming mode.
15. Last, go back to your Library and start the game from there.

Steam Deck vs. Other Handheld Gaming Devices

Steam Deck:

1. Handheld PC Gaming: The Steam Deck is essentially a handheld gaming PC running on a customized version of Linux, which allows players to access their entire Steam library and other PC gaming platforms.
2. Powerful Hardware: It boasts powerful hardware, including a custom AMD APU with a quad-core Zen 2 CPU and RDNA 2 graphics architecture, making it capable of running demanding PC games.
3. Controls: It features a familiar gamepad layout with two thumbsticks, a D-pad, ABXY buttons, and additional buttons for full control in various games.
4. Display: The Steam Deck comes with a 7-inch touchscreen display with a resolution of 1280×800, providing a good balance between portability and gaming experience.

Other Handheld Gaming Devices (e.g., Nintendo Switch):

1. Dedicated Gaming Consoles: Devices like the Nintendo Switch are dedicated gaming consoles designed specifically for gaming.
2. Exclusive Games: Nintendo Switch, for instance, has a strong lineup of exclusive games developed by Nintendo, which can’t be played on the Steam Deck.
3. Hardware: Other handheld devices may have less powerful hardware compared to the Steam Deck, making them better suited for less demanding games or games specifically optimized for the platform.
4. Operating System: Most gaming consoles have a closed operating system, limiting their capabilities outside gaming.

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